|
Alliance Seeks Meetings Over Delaney Case |
|
Thursday, 12 January 2006 |
 The Alliance has called on the Queensland Corrective Services' Minister Judy Spence to repeal section 100 of Qld's Corrective Service Act 2000 which prohibits anyone from interviewing or photographing prisoners without permission. The call came after the Brisbane Magistrates' Court gave documentary maker Anne Delaney a 12-month $750 good behaviour bond for "interviewing" a prisoner.
More can be read about the Anne Delaney case here and also in the posting "A Dangerous Law" on the union’s blog Coming Up For Air.
The legislation had been reviewed in early 2005, a month before Delaney was apprehended, but there were no recommendations for reform (read report here).
"Legislation that stops journalists or members of the public from seeking transparency within the penal system is dangerously undemocratic and has a sinister potential for human rights violations. Journalists shrouded under the constant threat of repressive laws such as this cannot do their jobs effectively. They cannot question, investigate or reveal information in the public interest," says Alliance federal secretary Christopher Warren.
The Alliance also wants to meet Western Australia's Attorney General Jim McGinty and Justice Minister John D'Orazio about section 52 of WA's Prisons Act 1981 which contains penalties of $1500 fines or 18 months jail (or both) if journalists have contact with a prisoner. |
Media 
